Category Archives: TV Reviews

The legend of Sleepy Hollow gets a revamp in FOX’s new Monday night drama. The pilot was fast-paced, dark and exciting. The acting is fantastic. The characters are interesting. And the new lore is enthrallingly creepy. Fans of NBC’s Grimm should check out this latest mix of fairy tale fantasy, mystery, and horror.

About the show:
Welcome to SLEEPY HOLLOW, the thrilling new mystery-adventure drama from co-creators/executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (the “Star Trek” and “Transformers” franchises, “Fringe”).

In this modern-day twist on Washington Irving’s classic, ICHABOD CRANE (Tom Mison) is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers. Revived alongside Ichabod is the infamous Headless Horseman who is on a murderous rampage in present-day Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod quickly realizes that stopping Headless is just the beginning, as the resurrected rider is but the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and only one of the many formidable foes that Ichabod must face to protect not only Sleepy Hollow, but the world.

As Ichabod finds himself in 2013’s Sleepy Hollow, he discovers a town he no longer recognizes and grapples to understand. Teaming up with Lt. ABBIE MILLS (Nicole Beharie), a young cop who has her own supernatural experiences, the two embark on a mission to stop the evil that has awoken along with Ichabod and that now is seeping into this once-sleepy town.

Clues from the past enlighten mysteries in the present, as each episode features a flashback to Ichabod’s life in 1776. Ripe with untold stories from American history and cloaked in mythology, the divide between present and past becomes dangerously blurred. Lives are in the balance, including that of Ichabod’s late wife, KATRINA (Katia Winter), who is trapped in a mysterious netherworld. In his pursuit to save her, Ichabod uncovers secrets about her, leaving him with countless questions.

Not everyone believes Ichabod’s tales of 1776 and supernatural evils, especially the new head of Abbie’s police precinct, Captain FRANK IRVING (Orlando Jones). When faced with bizarre events he can’t explain, Capt. Irving reluctantly turns to Ichabod and Abbie to investigate.

Ichabod’s extensive first-hand knowledge of our country’s hidden history, coupled with Abbie’s superior profiling and modern threat assessment skills, make them a formidable duo. The complex pasts of the pair, from Ichabod’s inclusion in the powerful and secretive Freemasons Society to Abbie’s childhood visions, will help them solve the intricate puzzles of Sleepy Hollow in order to protect its – and the world’s – future. As history repeats itself, the oddly-linked pair will draw on the real stories and secrets this nation was founded on in their quest to stop an increasingly vicious cycle of evil.

Synopsis:
STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE recounts the adventures of the pioneers of space travel who ventured into the universe 100 years before the events of Star Trek®: The Original Series. Set in the 22nd century, in a time when interstellar travel is still in its infancy, ENTERPRISE follows Captain Archer and his crew of brave explorers as they set out to chart the galaxy on a revolutionary spacecraft and experience the wonder and mystery of the final frontier as they seek out new life and new civilizations.

Review:
Picking up after the season 1 cliffhanger finale, “Shockwave, Part II” where Captain Archer is stuck hundreds of years in the future. My favorite stories from Enterprise involve time travel, the Temporal Cold War, and the beginnings of Section 31. And I was one of the theme song haters at first, but by this season I had come to appreciate “Where My Heart Will Take Me” as it just fit the theme of the show. It really had a great cast and great storylines, up until the arguable Xindi debacle. This season had some great episodes – first contact with alien races, “Carbon Creek”, and “Regeneration” (with the Borg). Unlike the other Star Trek series, this ship is full of inexperienced and optimistic crew members who are on the front lines of space exploration. Every experience is new and exciting for them. The addition of the featurettes makse this a must for any Enterprise fan. Brannon Braga hosts a fun, new cast reunion – “In Conversation: The First Crew” as the cast shares memories and stories from the set.

Synopsis:
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE THIRD SEASON is a 6-disc collection featuring all 26 episodes of the third season. Continuing to follow the remarkable voyages of the Starship Enterprise, the third season includes some of the most celebrated episodes in Star Trek canon.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Blu-ray features a seamlessly edited, one-part, feature length presentation of the classic two-part cliffhanger. In this fan favorite episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is captured and assimilated by the Borg. Available in high-definition for the first time ever, a centerpiece to the release is a newly-produced featurette entitled “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg.” Offering fans an in-depth exploration into the creation of The Next Generation’s most iconic villains, along with the making of the episode, the exclusive featurette includes all-new interviews with the show’s production staff, visual effects artists, writers, and cast as they reveal the challenges faced in producing one of the most technically complex episodes of the series. Plus the set includes an exclusive gag reel and all-new commentary with technical consultants Mike and Denise Okuda, actor Elizabeth Dennehy and director Cliff Bole.

Review:
Star Trek: The Next Generation was my favorite television series from the time it aired. And season three had some of the best episodes such as: The Most Toys, Deja Q, Yesterday’s Enterprise, and The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1 to name just a few. By now, the crew has formed a noticeable camaraderie. This is science fiction at its finest with unique characters, exceptional stories, and great special effects for its time. I loved experiencing these adventures again, restored on blu ray. I received this season for review, but enjoyed so much that I had to go out and buy the previous seasons on blu ray as well. My favorite new addition was the featurette “Inside The Writer’s Room” moderated by Seth MacFarlane. And of course, I can’t get enough of gag reels.

About the Show:
STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE recounts the adventures of the pioneers of space travel who ventured into the universe 100 years before James T. Kirk helmed the starship of the same name. Set in the 22nd century, ENTERPRISE takes place in an era when interstellar travel is still in its infancy. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) has assembled a crew of brave explorers to chart the galaxy on a revolutionary spacecraft: Enterprise NX-01. As the first human beings to venture into deep space, these men and women will experience the wonder and mystery of the final frontier as they seek out new life and new civilizations.

Synopsis:
Homicide detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) discovers he is descended from a long line of criminal profilers known as “Grimms,” protectors who are charged with keeping the balance between humanity and the creatures of myth. With newly awoken abilities to detect the evil lurking among us, Nick struggles to keep his old life separate and safe as he becomes ever more entrenched in the ancient rivalries of the Grimm world.

Review:
Nick and Hank (Russell Hornsby) may be the police detectives that investigate the strange reports in the area. But it’s Monroe (the local werewolf) that Nick runs to for help with the paranormal situations. Nick and Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) have a great chemistry. And Monroe’s smart humor adds a much-needed light-hearted feel to an otherwise dark and suspenseful setting. Bitsie Tulloch plays Nick’s girlfriend Juliette who knows nothing (until the end of the season) about Nick’s Grimm legacy.

This is one of my favorite shows on television. Each episode is a different Grimm fairy tale or myth with a modern day twist is always full of thrills, chills, and fantastic creatures. The mixture of mystery, suspense, horror and humor makes this a must-watch show. ABC’s aired its first season of the popular fairy tale series Once Upon a Time this past year as well. And though there are similarities, there is a decidedly different feel to Grimm. There is none of the corniness or fanciful magic of OUaT. This is dark and gritty, with a more realistic, modern twist to the familiar stories. While there is an overlying arc that flows throughout the season, another nice thing about the series is that you don’t necessarily have to watch each one in order. Each episode is a creature-(or fairy tale)-of-the-week with complex characters and exceptional writing. Don’t miss this series.

Specs:
Available on Blu-ray and DVD on August 7, 2012, this five-disc set includes all 22 episodes.
BLU-RAY BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:
• Grimm Guide: An interactive book that provides insight into the various creatures featured in the show.
• 2 Grimm collector’s cards
BLU-RAY and DVD BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:
• The World of Grimm: Get to know the characters and creatures that inhabit the world of “Grimm” and discover the inspiration behind the storylines.
• Making Monsters: Go behind the scenes with Andy Clement and Barney Burman as they take viewers through the special makeup effects design and application process. The talented team from Hive FX also shows fans how they give life to the monsters of “Grimm.”
• Deleted scenes
• Gag reel

Teen Wolf Season 2 debuts on MTV with a 2-part premiere on Sunday, June 3rd and Monday, June 4th.

Derek is the new Alpha and he’s started growing his pack. Season two opens with a scene of Jackson, happy to have been bitten. But he and Lydia aren’t reacting to their bites in the same way that Scott did. Meanwhile, a new powerful member of the Argent (werewolf-hunting) family arrives in town with a vengeance. And Scott and Allison new relationship is threatened when Allison’s father forbids her from seeing Scott any longer.

Teen Wolf is an action-packed drama with plenty of romance, humor, suspense, and violence. And the two-part season two premiere is no exception. Tyler Posey is back as the sweet and unassuming Scott McCall. And Scott’s relationship with Allison Argent (Crystal Reed) amps up despite having to keep it a secret. Tyler Hoechlin is the hunky but tortured Derek Hale who is now trying to recruit Scott into his pack. I was thrilled to see John Wesley Shipp (The Flash, Dawson’s Creek) has a brief cameo, though he plays the opposite of Dawson’s daddy. This season brings some major changes. The former Alpha may be gone, but there are a whole new slew of bad guys coming. And a strange, new creature makes an appearance that provides another mystery.

MTV has created a fantastic show based on the movie of the same name. Successfully blending horror, mystery, adventure, romance, and teen angst – fans of the Vampire Diaries should definitely be watching this. After watching the premiere, I’m more excited than ever for the rest of season two.

TNT’s new hit scifi drama Falling Skies has already been renewed for a second season. Tonight’s all new episode “What Hides Beneath” holds some shocking revelations and is one of the most exciting yet this season. Action-packed, thrilling suspense, and heart-wrenching drama makes this one of the best shows on tv right now. Fringe’s Blair Brown guest stars as a survivor that Tom stumbles upon while on an information-gathering mission. Don’t miss it!

Teen Wolf will debut this Sunday, June 5th on MTV, then moving to Monday nights regularly at 10/9c June 6th. When friends Stiles and Scott decide to follow the police into the woods to look for a body, Scott is attacked by a monstrous creature. And the next day, Scott begins to see changes in his lacrosse playing and some incredible developing abilities. When a pretty new girl moves to town, Scott immediately makes a connection with her. But a full moon is coming. And Scott is in store for some even bigger changes.

This remake of the popular 80s film stars Tyler Posey as Scott McCall, an awkward teen whose life changes forever after getting bitten by a werewolf. Scott’s best friend Stiles is played by Dylan O’Brien, a headstrong but loyal confidant. Crystal Reed is Allison Argent – the new girl with a mysterious past. The acting is spot on, with fantastic character development.

Unlike its light-hearted, humorous predecessor, MTV’s Teen Wolf is darker, full of suspense, horror, mystery, and drama. I’ve only seen the pilot so far, but the producers also promise more romance and intensity. I had my doubts, thinking this would just be another corny, teenybop show. And I haven’t watched MTV since college. But I have to say I was impressed with this pilot. It’s fun, exciting, fast-paced, and fresh. I will definitely be tuning in to watch the rest of this 12-episode series. I highly recommend this new show to fans of CW’s Vampire Diaries.